MVP frontrunner Allen Liwag and Tony Ynot show the way as St. Benilde reaches the NCAA finals for the second time in three years
MANILA, Philippines – St. Benilde completed a season sweep of San Beda as it found its way back to the NCAA finals.
Powered by MVP frontrunner Allen Liwag, the Blazers dethroned the Red Lions, 79-63, in the Season 100 men’s basketball Final Four at the Cuneta Astrodome on Saturday, November 23.
Liwag finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds as Benilde reached the finals for the second time in three years and arranged a title duel with top seed Mapua.
But the goal is not just to make the finals, with the Blazers seeking to capture their first championship in 24 years.
“I want to win one for this school, for the players, for their family. I hope this is a good chance for us,” said Benilde head coach Charles Tiu.
Tony Ynot supplied 17 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds, while Jhomel Ancheta turned in 11 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds as the Blazers dominated from start to finish.
Liwag and Ancheta set the tone, firing 8 points each in the opening quarter to propel Benilde to a 25-14 advantage.
That lead gradually swelled and reached its peak at 70-40, with the Blazers cruising the rest of the way to set up a first-ever championship clash with the Cardinals.
It will be the first time in 20 years that the finals will not feature either San Beda or Letran, or since the Philippine Christian University beat Perpetual for the Season 80 crown in 2004.
This season will also witness the birth of a new champion after the Red Lions and the Knights alternated titles from Season 86 to Season 99.
“We’re happy to be in the finals but we’re not content. I told them from Day 1, my goal is always to win the championship, so I hope this year, we can hit our goal,” said Tiu.
AJ Royo and Penny Estacio produced 14 and 10 points, respectively, as the only San Beda players in double-figure scoring, with usual suspects for the Red Lions firing blanks.
Yukien Andrada tallied just 7 points on 2-of-9 shooting, while Bryan Sajonia put up only 6 points on a 2-of-10 clip in the loss.
It did not help that San Beda missed the services of athletic forward Jomel Puno, who sat out due to an ankle injury as the Red Lions ended their campaign on a four-game skid.
The Scores
St. Benilde 79 – Liwag 20, Ynot 17, Ancheta 11, Sanchez 9, Cometa 5, Turco 4, Sangco 3, Oli 3, Eusebio 3, Torres 2, Ondoa 2, Cajucom 0, Morales 0, Serrano 0, Jarque 0.
San Beda 63 – Royo 14, Estacio 10, Andrada 7, Sajonia 6, RC Calimag 6, Bonzalida 5, Lina 4, Payosing 4, Tagle 3, Gonzales 2, Songcuya 2, Celzo 0, Tagala 0, Jalbuena 0, Richi Calimag 0.
Quarters: 25-14, 53-27, 70-42, 79-63.
– Rappler.com
